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When Girls Thrive, We All Thrive

 

Our Mission

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WISER empowers girls and communities through transformative education and (w)holistic health.

Our Community

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WISER is possible thanks to collaboration with the community of Muhuru Bay, Kenya, where we have worked for over 10 years.

 

ALWAYS GROWING

WISER is a community effort to open doors for girls through holistic approaches. After a decade, we have touched the lives of tens of thousands of people through education and health programs and we still strive for more. 
Our WISER alumni, like Nimon, are the ultimate testimony to the longevity of WISER's impact - not only in Muhuru Bay, but across Kenya and the world. 

The WISER team is made up of a dedicated group representing both our Kenyan entity, the WISER NGO, and our United States 501c3 nonprofit, WISER International. Together, we form a cohesive group striving for collective impact.

WISER NGO Board (Kenya)

Sherryl Broverman headshot
DR. SHERRYL BROVERMAN
Board Chair
Neema Kanyua headshot
NEEMA W. KANYUA
Board Member
Linda Kamau headshot
LINDA KAMAU
Board Member
Linah Achieng Kowitti headshot
BEATRICE LINAH KOWITTI
Board Member
Carrie Arndt headshot
CARRIE
ARNDT
Board Member
John Muthee headshot
DR. JOHN MUTHEE
Treasurer
Judy Nyandwaro headshot
LAWRENCE OIMO
LYDIA FAITH ODHIAMBO headshot
LYDIA FAITH ODHIAMBO

WISER International Board (US)

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MELISSA KATZ
Board Chair
Carrie Ardnt headshot
CARRIE
ARNDT
Secretary
Joseph Sanginiti headshot
JOSEPH SANGINITI
Treasurer
Michael Schreiber headshot
MICHAEL SCHREIBER
Governance Chair
Steve Tremitiere headshot
STEVE TREMITIERE
Board Member
Kristin Ashcraft headshot
KRISTIN ASHCRAFT
Vice Chair
Prashant Swaminathan headshot
PRASHANT SWAMINATHAN
Board Member
Gita Venkata headshot
GITA VENKATA
Board Member
Deardra Griffin headshot
DEARDRA GRIFFIN
Board Member

 

 

 

Tyler Hefferon headshot
SETH BORDEN

Meet Our Staff

KENYAN STAFF
Dorcas Oyugi headshot
DORCAS OYUGI
Violet Singoei
VIOLET SINGOEI
Kennedy Mikula headshot
KENNEDY MIKULA

 

 

 

 

 

 

Judy Nyandwaro headshot
JUDY NYANDWARO
Grace Murika headshot
GRACE MURIKA
U.S. STAFF
Michael Carson headshot
MICHAEL CARSON
Executive Director
Michelle Gherardi headshot
MICHELLE GHERARDI

 

 

 

Jocelyn Luhr headshot
JOCELYN LUHR

 

Taylor headshot
TAYLOR HALE

 

 

 

John Coggin headshot
JOHN COGGIN

 

 

 

Tyler Hefferon headshot
TYLER HEFFERON

 

PARTNERS AND ACCOLADES

GRANT MAKERS

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PARTNER SCHOOLS

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DONOR TESTIMONIALS

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BECKY

Becky Grantland first heard about WISER when her daughter, Liddy, lived on WISER’s campus for a summer as a part of DukeEngage. A former English professor, a current school administrator, and a mother of two daughters, Becky resonated with WISER’s mission of education and empowerment, and has committed to donating to WISER monthly.

Quote: “Education is freedom: educated women are able to transform their own lives and the lives of their children. Your monthly gift has the potential to change the world.”

MELISSA

Melissa first heard about WISER at a fundraiser, where Madame Dorcas, WISER’s principal, shared about the empowerment of girls in Muhuru Bay. In 2013, she joined a Johnson and Johnson team on campus--and she never wanted to leave! Twice, her husband, Michael Freidberg has joined her and in 2019, her daughter, Annie, made the trip for the first time. Melissa now serves on WISER International’s board. She is passionate about sharing WISER’s impact with the world.

Quote: “If you give to WISER, you’re having such a huge impact on the trajectory of someone’s life in such a positive way. It feels good to know that one more life has improved because of the work we’re doing at WISER.”

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EILEEN

Eileen Vergino is passionate about seeing more women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), so she fit right in at WISER when she visited in 2017. What most impressed her was how committed students were not only to pursuing big, global dreams, but also, with transforming their local context. She loves how WISER creates role models so that young women in Muhuru Bay can pursue their dreams without limits.

Quote: “When I was at WISER, I loved spending time with the girls as they thought about problems, brainstormed solutions, and thought about how they could change their communities for the better. They’re not me-centered. They’re centered on ‘we’ and ‘us.’ That’s incredibly powerful.”